A Crown of Strength

---- Chapter 1 Everyone said Xander Fuller loved me deeply. If it had been a day earlier, | would have believed it too. But then | saw him through the hospital window, holding a sobbing woman tightly in his arms. "Don't overthink it! She's just your stand-in. If | didn't play the part, what if my enemies went after you? Thank goodness the explosion didn't hurt you, or I'd regret it forever!" | looked down at my scarred hands and gave a bitter smile. When my life hung by a thread, Xander saved me and gave me a love that felt one-of-a-kind. Back then, | naively thought | had found happiness.

But when enemies kidnapped and tortured me to threaten him, he acted indifferent, even showing a hint of relief in his eyes. | didn't understand why back then, but now it all made sense. | touched my mother's portrait and dialed a number | hadn't called in ages. That night, bodyguards surrounded the hospital entrance, bowing respectfully to me. ---- "Welcome back, Miss!" After learning none of Xander's enemies survived the explosion, | knew my marriage to him was over. He no longer needed me to shield his true love from danger. The hospital at night felt eerily quiet.

When Xander walked in, | had just finished my final bandage change for my hand injury. Unlike before, he didn't check my wounds or offer comfort. He stood in front of me and placed a prepared divorce agreement on the table. "Sign it." "Did you ever love me?" My voice trembled as | forced the question out. Though | knew the outcome, | still wanted an answer for the love | poured into these years. Three years ago, when my uncle Kory Curtis hunted me over family inheritance, | fell into the sea and nearly died. Xander saved me. From then on, | stayed by his side, and he treated me well.

The day | learned he wanted to marry me, | was so excited | didn't sleep for days. ---- Back then, | innocently believed this was the love and happiness my mother spoke of. At my words, Xander let out a mocking laugh. "Love? What's your status to think I'd love you? | will only ever love Dorothy. Saving you was just because you were an orphan. If you died, no one would care. You were perfect as Dorothy's stand-in. Now that I've eliminated all threats, it's time you gave her place back to her!" Looking at his impatient face, my anger made my hands tremble as | gripped the divorce agreement.

"So, Xander, all your talk of loving me and spending our lives together was a lie!" He sneered with disdain. "If | didn't say that, would you have willingly stayed by my side as Dorothy's stand-in for three years?" Before | could respond, he roughly grabbed my freshly bandaged hand. "Sign it quick! Why didn't that explosion kill you too? If you were dead, | wouldn't even need to sign this!" The gauze and medicine rubbed against my unhealed wounds, and pain made sweat bead on my forehead. But Xander didn't care. After | signed, he grabbed the agreement and left my room eagerly.

Watching his retreating figure, | gave a cold laugh. He'd pay for his betrayal. ---- | pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number. That night, bodyguards surrounded the hospital entrance. They bowed respectfully and addressed me. "Miss."